Radiator protector



Sept. 2, 1941.

F. SWANDA RADIATOR PROTECTOR Filed June 20, 1939 WITNESS a* INVENTOR mwwf@ ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 2, 1941 RADIATOR :PROTECTOR Frank Swanda, Schuyler, Nebr.

Application June 20, 1939, Serial No. 280,197

2 Claims. (f Cl. 156-10) My invention relates to radiator protectors and has as one of the principal objects thereof the provision of a protector equipped with means for regulating the admission of air to and through the radiator. 1

Another object of my invention is to provide adevice of the above described character which is simple in construction, durable in use, efficient in operation and economical in manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, appended claims and annexed drawing.

Referring to the drawing wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention illustrating the same attached to the forward portion of a motor vehicle, the latter being part-A ly illustrated in section.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of my invention on an enlarged scale.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 5--5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view taken on the line E-B of Figure 5.

In practicing my invention I provide a frame 5 which is mounted on the forward end of a motor vehicle 6 in front of the radiator 'I thereof and said frame includes a pair of vertically disposed spaced side members 8 provided with vertical slots 9 in which the ends of a roller shaft ID are operated. The side members 8 are connected together by upper and lower cross members II, the latter resting on the chassis of the motor vehicle and the former attached to the radiator by brackets I2.

The upper and lower cross members have fixed thereto, inwardly of said side members and in close relation to the latter, rack bars I3 having their toothed faces disposed forwardly towards the slots 9. The roller shaft I0 has fixed thereto pinions i4 which mesh with said rack bars I3.

The roller shaft has connected thereto one end of a curtain I5, the opposite end of said curtain being connected to the lower frame member Il as clearly illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawing. Obviously, when the roller shaft is operated either upwardly or downwardly the curtain is wound yor unwound with respect to the shaft to effect a closing or opening of the air passage extending through the frame and thus regulates the amount of air passing therethrough to the radiator.` The rear portion of said frame is provided with a screen I6 or the like extending across said air passage whereby to protect the radiator from insects and other foreign matter.

One end of the roller shaft I0 has fixed thereto a stub shaft II which extends outwardly beyond one of the side members 8 and through the respective slot 9 thereof. The stub shaft I'l has connected thereto ya roller shaft operating mech.. anism, the latter comprising a sleeve I8 formed with a closed end I9 and an open end 20.

The sleeve is journaled for both axial and rotary movement on said stub shaft I'I and is provided with a detent 2l normally extending through the slot 9 and between a pair of teeth on the adjacent pinion I4 whereby to preclude 0peration of the roller shaft due to the engagement of the detent with the walls defining the slot. A

coil spring 22 is mounted about the stub shaft and within the sleeve and has one end engaging the closed end I9 of the sleeve and the other end engaging 1a nut 23 carried on the end of the stub shaft and accessible through the open end 20 of the sleeve. The closed end I9 of the sleeve I8 is provided with a right angularly extending arm 24 projecting through the slot 9 and overlying the adjacent pinion I4 and said arm is provided on the inner end thereof with an abutment 25 to preclude withdrawal of the latter from within the frame. However, the arm is of a suii'cient length to permit the sleeve :to be grasped by the fingers of the operator and axially moved outwardly on the stub shaft I'I and against the tension of the spring to eect disengagement of the detent 2| with the pinion Ill. W'hen the sleeve is thus positioned outwardly the latter may be manually moved upwardly or downwardly to raise or lower the roller shaft I0 within the slots to effect rotation of the roller shaft through the medium of the pinions meshing with the rack bars. Obviously, when the roller shaft is operated in the foregoing manner, the curtain is unwound or wound about the roller shaft as the case may be to regulate 'the admission of air to and through the radiator. Release of the sleeve by the operator permits the spring 22 to axially move the sleeve i8 inwardly and position the detent Zi between a pair of the teeth on the adjacent pinion Ili, thereby locking or securing the shaft IU in a desired adjusted position with respect to the radiator.

The forward end of the motor vehicle illustrated in Figure l of the drawing is of the type having the hood rearwardly hinged to the cowl Y (not shown) and with the forward end of said hood raiseable with respect to the grill. Obviously, by raising the hood the hand of the operator may be inserted downwardly and laterally to one side of the frame 5 whereby the sleeve I8 may be readily grasped to effect adjustment of the curtain l5 as heretofore described.

From the foregoing.'A it will be apparent that I have provided a simple and efficient form of radiator protector capable of .being quickly and easily adjusted in a manner whereby the amount of air passing to the radiator may be regulated. It is obvious that the invention is not conned to the herein described use therefor as it may be utilized for any purpose to which it is adaptable. It is therefore to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific constructiony as illustrated and described, as the same is only illustrative of the principles of operation, which are capable of extended application in advance forms,V and that the invention comprehends all construction^within the-scope of the appended claims. Y' -What I claim is: Y

-1.'A device of the character described, comprising, a frame having side members fashioned with vertically extending` slots and upper and lower cross members connecting said side members together in spaced relation, rack bars carried within said frame adjacent said slots, a rotary shaft operable within said slots, pinions fixed on said shaft and meshing with said rack bars for effecting simultaneous rotary and `vertical movement of said shaft within said slots, a curtain connected to one of said cross members and to said roller shaft and Windably operable with the latter to raised and lowered positions with respect to said frame, and a sleeve axially movable (on and forming a bearing for said roller shaft and equipped with a detent extending through one of said slots and normally engaging one of said pinions and the walls defining said last-mentioned slots to maintain said roller shaft in adjusted position relative to said rack bars, said sleeve manually and axially movable on said roller shaft to effect release of said detent from said pinion whereby to permit rotary and vertical movement of said roller shaft, relative to said rack bars by said sleeve.

2. The structure of claim 1 as set forth and defined therein including, a spring connected between said shaft and sleevey for normally maintaining said detent in engagement with said lastmentioned pinion. y

FRANK SWANDA. 

